WESTERN RED CEDAR LUMBER ASSOCIATION

AT ONE WITH

NATUREVolume 7

The Cedar Book

REAlcEdAR.cOm

INdEx

4 ButteResidence jackson hole, wyoming

10 AptosRetReAt aptos, california

14 cedARHouse flinders bay, western australia

18 HigginsLAkeHouse roscommon, michigan

24 noRtHwestHARBoR east hampton, new york

28 pigeoncReekResidence olive township, michigan

32 sugARBowL norden, california

38 postcARdHouse branson west, missouri

42 owHAnAkeBAyHouse waiheke island, new zealand

46 spLitHouse askerhus county, norway

50 wAccABucHouse waccabuc, new york

54 tsunAmiHouse camano island, washington

58 edgeHouse warren, connecticut

AT ONE WITH

NATURE

The Cedar Book

ThE CEDAR BOOk 3

L et’s face it – Mother Nature broke the mold when it comes to beautiful design. So the smartest thing we mere mortals can do is live in harmony with her geographical grandeur, and few building materials help achieve that better than western red cedar (WRC). Thus, the theme of this year’s Cedar Book is “At One With Nature.”

Celebrating naturalistic luxury and innovative design, the following chapters showcase 13 of the most spectacular residential projects from around the globe. In each – whether it’s a stunning island home in New Zealand or a transformational New York retreat – the architecture is in direct dialogue with its natural surroundings. Playing a key role in this mergence between progressive design and environment is the use of western red cedar.

As many architects know, western red cedar is not only naturally beautiful, but also very versatile. This is due to the fact that it’s pitch-free and resin-free, making it ideal for accepting and holding a wide range of aesthetically pleasing finishes and stains. As well, western red cedar is naturally resistant to rot, decay and insect attacks. Hence, the projects featured in this book will stand the test of time and require relatively low maintenance. This durability is attested to by the majestic, centuries-old totem poles of the Pacific Northwest, which are traditionally carved from western red cedar.

Choosing this highly revered species also ensures a lighter carbon footprint than using other building materials. That’s because it’s harvested from the most sustainably managed forests in the world. In fact, more than 85 percent of timberland in BC – the primary source for western red cedar – is certified by internationally recognized, independent, third-party forest certification agencies. In short, western red cedar is a natural choice that nods both to a rich past and a sustainable future.

For the last several years, the photographs, plans and printed word published in these pages have inspired architects, designers, builders and developers, as well as their clients – and we hope this 7th edition is no different. For more information or to answer any questions about western red cedar products, please visit RealCedar.com.

4 THE cEdAR bOOk

client couple with grown children architects carney logan burke architects

photographer paul warchol

structuralengineers kl&a inc.generalcontractor kurt wimberg construction

projecttype single-family residence

location jackson hole, wyoming

ButteResidence

As the name suggests, this Jackson Hole residence is built on a butte, but not just any butte – a scenically blessed hillside surrounded by national parks

and the Teton Mountain Range. The picturesque property also overlooks the dramatic convergence of the Snake and Gros Ventre Rivers. So, when it came to deciding on a building site that offers spectacular views, the owners were spoilt for choice.

“There were so many opportunities presented by the site,” says Eric Logan, AIA, principal at Carney Logan Burke Architects. “We spent a year adjusting the proposed building location. The owners were intimately involved in every step of the process.”

THE cEdAR bOOk 5

“The character and warmth of that particular species fit the vibe they [the clients] were interested in…warm and inviting – not cold, hard modernism.”

– EriC LogAn, AiAARChITECT

6 THE cEdAR bOOk

“The owners were interested in creating an ‘unfolding experience’ on the site,” continues Logan. “They also desire architecture with character and materiality that respects western tradition but embraces simple, abstract spaces.”

He reconciled this latter aspect of the brief with the use of stone and plenty of western red cedar. But rather than rendering those materials in a traditional American frontier form with exposed beams, columns, logs, etc., the wood was used as a skin.

1. ThE OLD WEST gETS A NEW LOOk

ThANkS TO A MODERN pROfILE AND

ThE USE Of WESTERN RED CEDAR

2.NORTh ELEvATION OffERINg

pANORAMIC vIEWS

3. WEST TERRACE fOR ThE ULTIMATE

OUTDOOR LIvINg ExpERIENCE

12

3

gRAde kILN-DRIED “A” CLEAR AND BETTER

WESTERN RED CEDAR vERTICAL gRAIN

size 1x6 fINELINE TONgUE AND gROOvE

fAstening fACE NAILED WITh pAINTED RINg

ShANk SIDINg NAILS

finisH SUpER DECk CANyON BROWN

TRANSpARENT STAIN AND SEALER

wRcspecificAtions

THE cEdAR bOOk 7

8 THE cEdAR bOOk

FRONT ENTRy WITH

TETON mOUNTAIN

RANgE bEyONd

THE cEdAR bOOk 9

The structural design, meanwhile, was more about responding to the site. Consequently, the finished product is an innovative series of light-filled sculptural spaces woven into the topography of the land, canopy roof forms that echo the butte’s skyline, and cladding that can hold its own in these stunning, yet sometimes unforgiving, surroundings.

“Western red cedar was primarily used on the exterior,” explains Logan. “We did that for a couple of reasons: first, this is is a harsh environment and western red cedar weathers well in this kind of environment and second, it just happens to be beautiful.”

SECTION

MAIN LEvEL pLAN

LOWER LEvEL pLAN

AptosRetReAt

client stuart gasner & kate ditzler designprincipal cass calder smith projectarchitect tim quayle engineers ron belknap & david dauphin

interiordesigner lynn ross designs

landscapedesignernatalain schwartz designs

photographer paul dyer

projecttype second residence/family retreat

location aptos, california

imagine designing a vacation home for a super active, environmentally conscious latter–day version of the Brady Bunch. That’s basically what Cass Calder Smith

and Tim Quayle of CCS Architecture did with the Aptos Retreat.

Designed for a large blended family with a combined total of six kids, this rustically beautiful piece of paradise is made for enjoying the outdoors to the fullest.

For starters, the 20-acre country compound includes a pool, an archery range and a horseshoe pit – to name just a few recreational features. But the real heart and soul of this property is a 2,800-square-foot L-shaped main house that’s composed of a ‘sleep building’ and a ‘living building’ – both of which feature reclaimed western red cedar cladding.

10 ThE CEDAR BOOk

“The use of wood inside the house was to make it feel more connected to its rural setting.”

– Tim QuAyLEARChITECT

11

12 THE cEdAR bOOk

Anchoring these two residential components is the central kitchen. This area seamlessly connects diners to the outdoors with sliding glass doors that offer panoramic views of the surrounding Santa Cruz Mountains.

As for the interior of this indoor/outdoor culinary hub, Smith opted for knotty western red cedar paneling because of how the wood’s warming effect “relates back to nature and the home’s natural surroundings.”

gRAde kILN-DRIED SELECT kNOTTy

WESTERN RED CEDAR

size 1x6 TONgUE AND gROOvE

fAstening BLIND NAILED

finisH UNfINIShED

wRcspecificAtions

1.MAIN hOUSE, COMpOSED Of

TWO BUILDINgS ThAT OvERLAp

AT ThEIR ROOfS

2.kNOTTy CEDAR hALLWAy

LEADS TO MASTER BEDROOM

3.CENTRAL kITChEN CREATES

LINkAgE TO ThE OUTDOORS

1 2

3

“The overall guide was to keep it authentic, rural, casual and sustainable where possible –the reclaimed barn wood siding and western red cedar interior met all four of the above.”

– CAss CALdEr smiThDESIgN pRINCIpAL

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

1 ENTRY2 DINING3 KITCHEN4 LIVING5 FIREPLACE6 PANTRY

7 LAWN8 BATHHOUSE9 OUTDOOR SHOWER

1

23

7

5

4

6

8

10

11

9

12

10 BEDROOM 111 BEDROOM 212 SOUTH DECK

13

14

14

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

13 MASTER SUITE14 SPLIT BATHROOM

THE cEdAR bOOk 13

Tucked in lush foliage on the outskirts of a Western Australia coastal town, this award-winning “Cedar House” is designed to maximize the site’s

spectacular ocean views and semi-rural setting.

But before Craig Steere of Craig Steere Architects could achieve this naturalistic feat, he had to first address various topographical challenges including a steeply sloping site, scattered large granite stone outcrops and significant rainwater runoff.

However, with the help of early geotechnical investigations, the CSA team was able to carefully plan the building’s footprint. The result is this stunning U-shaped western red cedar-clad structure that juts out toward the shoreline, offering protection from harsh

cedARHouse

client family of three architect craig steere architects (csa) engineer cornforth cb consulting engineers

photographer angus martin

contractor oceania blue constructions

projecttype family home

location flinders bay, western australia

elements, but also ensuring occupants can feel at one with their natural surroundings.

To further enhance this coastal living experience, the home’s color scheme reflects the area’s expansive shoreline. The white walls, for instance, reference the sandy beaches and the gray polished plaster is a nod to the granite boulders found around the property. But the most inspired hue here has to be all that beautiful richly toned wood.

Steere explains, “The western red cedar was used extensively inside and out, providing a material connection piercing through the structure, while offering natural beauty and warmth to the material palette of the house and connecting with the oranges and reds of the natural earth.”

CEDAR-CLAD ‘U’ OARS fLOAT ABOvE STEEL

ANgLED SUppORTS ThAT REfERENCE LOCAL

pEppERMINT TREES ON-SITE

14 THE cEdAR bOOk

THE cEdAR bOOk 15

1. ApERTURES ARE ARTICULATED

ThROUghOUT ThE BUILDINg

2.MATERIALS RUN fROM ThE INSIDE TO

ThE OUTSIDE TO INTERCONNECT SpACES

3.fLOOR-TO-CEILINg WINDOWS ALLOW

OCCUpANTS IN EvERy AREA Of ThE

hOUSE TO fEEL CONNECTED TO ThE

LUSh LANDSCApE

1

2 3

16 THE cEdAR bOOk

gRAde kILN-DRIED “A” CLEAR AND BETTER

WESTERN RED CEDAR

size 133 MMx18 MM ChANNEL RUSTIC

fAstening STAINLESS STEEL SIDINg NAILS

finisH INTERgRAIN DIMENSION 4

(TIMBER STABILIzINg

pRE-TREATMENT) pLUS INTERgRAIN

DWD (hIgh pERfORMANCE, LOW

ShEEN, TRANSpARENT WATER-BASED

ExTERIOR fINISh)

wRcspecificAtions

“Western red cedar provided the function required, but most of all it offered the color and natural beauty that truly enhanced the visual rewards that this home offers.”

– CrAig sTEErEARChITECT

3

15

14 1

2

11

4

5 10

8

97

12

6

13

1 KITCHEN2 SCULLERY3 ENT. COURT4 DINING5 LIVING6 STUDY7 DRESSING ROOM8 ENSUITE9 MAIN SUITE10 OUTDOOR LIVING 11 OUTDOOR LIVING12 POWDER ROOM13 LAUNDRY14 MUD ROOM15 GARAGE

THE cEdAR bOOk 17

fIRST LEvEL fLOOR pLAN

18 THE cEdAR bOOk

client dave and karen jordan architects jeff jordan architects llc

photographer jeff garland photography

contractor rl zuzula construction

projecttype family retreat/cottage

location roscommon, michigan

HigginsLAkeHouse

depending on your family dynamics, designing a home for your parents could be er… um…challenging. Thankfully, this was not the case for Jeff Jordan, who recently designed this family retreat for his

folks, Dave and Karen Jordan. As clients go, Jordan says they were pretty easygoing. But they weren’t completely passive either – in particular, the Michigan couple had several requests regarding the site’s natural surroundings.

“The views to the lake and the evening sunsets were very important to them,” says Jordan. “Additionally, the trees that existed between the house and the neighboring houses were important, both as something to observe and as a privacy buffer.”

TRANSvERSE SECTION WEST

THE cEdAR bOOk 19

“The idea was to use a natural material that had inherent warmth and character, something that was humble, yet elegant.”

– JEff JordAnARChITECT

20 ThE CEDAR BOOk

gRAde kILN-DRIED “A” CLEAR AND BETTER

WESTERN RED CEDAR

size 1x4 TONgUE AND gROOvE

fAstening STAINLESS STEEL fASTENERS OvER

A RAIN SCREEN AppLICATION

finisH BENjAMIN MOORE “ARBOR COAT”

wRcspecificAtions

WESTERN RED CEDAR pLAyINg

Off ThE NATURALLy BEAUTIfUL

LAkESIDE COLOR pALETTE

Another requirement was that this cottage had to respect the scale and modesty of the neighboring cottages.

Easier said than done, considering that Dave and Karen also wanted a spacious cabin that could accommodate 25 people comfortably. In fact, the finished product is a luxury cabin with over 5,000 square feet, with six bedrooms and five bathrooms.

“From the outside, however, you never realize just how big it is,” says the innovative New Jersey-based architect.

“We spent a lot of time reducing the bulk by burying half the program partially below grade, breaking the overall mass into four smaller masses with ‘courtyards’ in-between, and keeping the overall footprint narrow and deep.”

In furtherance of enhancing the home’s relationship with its stunning environment, Jordan incorporated a wraparound deck on the same plane as the main living area.

“This allows for seamless living between the interior and exterior of the house,” explains Jordan. “We did the same with the cedar siding,

THE cEdAR bOOk 21

22 THE cEdAR bOOk

extending it into the living room to blur the distinction between interior and exterior space.”

He chose western red cedar specifically because he wanted a building material that would, among other things, complement, not compete with, the property’s naturally beautiful habitation.

“The western red cedar’s appearance is harmonious with the trees on the site,” says Jordan, adding, “It also feels appropriate next to the multi-hued lake water.”

1. pARTIALLy BURIED pROgRAM BELIES

ThE IMMENSITy Of ThIS LUxURy CABIN

2.WRC OUTDOOR ShOWER ADDS TO ThE

gREAT OUTDOOR ExpERIENCE

3.WRApAROUND DECk CONNECTS ThE

INTERIOR WITh ThE ExTERIOR

1 2

3

THE cEdAR bOOk 23

SOUTh ELEvATION

24 ThE CEDAR BOOk

noRtHwestHARBoR

client couple with grown children architect bates masi architects engineer steve l maresca

photographer bates masi architects

contractor brian mannix

projecttype family retreat

location east hampton, new york

Environmental sensitivity was the order of the day with this East Hampton family retreat. The structure’s maximum coverage

was limited (and rightfully so) due to the surrounding freshwater wetlands and tidal estuary. As well, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulations and the town building codes required that the home’s first floor be above flood elevation. But instead of simply using pilings to hike up the ground plane, Paul Masi of Bates Masi Architects made these structural members an integral part of the design.

“Sixteen wide, exposed, glue-laminated piles stake out the enclosing walls for each of the three bedrooms and extend continuously from the ground through the roof,” says Masi.

“The residual spaces between these piles house ‘utility’ functions: closet, desk, laundry, pantry, and shower compartment.”

Along with forming these functional nooks, Masi left three vertical voids between the columns in order to, among other things, draw in natural light throughout the house. To ensure these all-purpose pillars would be aesthetically pleasing for a long time to come, Masi chose rough-sawn western red cedar. He also used a mix of western red cedar on the exterior siding as well as on the interior walls.

“Western red cedar was a great complement to the interior oak floors and ceilings,” says Masi. “It has the ability to be easily stained which we used to visually differentiate the structural light well cores.”

THE cEdAR bOOk 25

WEsTERN REd cEdAR glUlAms

sUppORT ANd ElEvATE THE HOUsE

AbOvE THE FlOOdplAIN

1

2

26 ThE CEDAR BOOk

THE cEdAR bOOk 27

wRcspecificAtions

1. LIGHT WELL ABOVE2. ENTRY STAIR3. OUTDOOR SHOWER4. CARPORT5. STORAGE 16. STORAGE 27. ELEVATED MECHANICAL8. SANITARY FIELD

LOWER LEVEL0 24'16'8'

N

1. LIGHT WELL2. STAIR3. ROOF DECK4. GARDEN5. CLERESTORY WINDOW BELOW

ROOF LEVEL0 24'16'8'

N

DW

F

W

UPPER LEVEL0 24'16'8'

1. LIGHT WELL2. ENTRY STAIRS & LANDING3. ENTRY4. DINING5. KITCHEN6. GRILL AREA7. PANTRY8. LAUNDRY9. LIVING ROOM

10. GUEST ROOM11. BATH12. CLOSET13. OFFICE ALCOVE14. KIDS ROOM15. MASTER BEDROOM16. BALCONY17. STAIR TO ROOF

N

ROOf LEvEL fLOOR pLAN

UppER LEvEL fLOOR pLAN

LOWER LEvEL fLOOR pLAN

1. LIghTER ShADE Of WRC SIDINg REpRESENTS

ThE INfILL fRAMINg BETWEEN ThE CORES

2. ThE DININg ROOM BOASTS SLIDERS TO ThE

ExTERIOR vIEW AS WELL AS TO ONE Of ThE

LIghT WELLS gLuLAms

gRAde ARChITECTURAL gRADE WESTERN

RED CEDAR

size 5" x 2'-9 1/2"

finisH 50/50 MIx Of CABOT

SEMI-TRANSpARENT AND

SEMI-SOLID DARk SLATE gRAy

VeRticALinteRioRAndexteRioRsiding

gRAde kILN-DRIED “A” CLEAR AND BETTER

TONgUE AND gROOvE fLUSh-jOINT

TExTURED-fACE WESTERN RED CEDAR

size 1x4

finisH 50/50 MIx Of CABOT

SEMI-TRANSpARENT AND

SEMI-SOLID DARk SLATE gRAy

HoRizontALsiding

gRAde kILN-DRIED “A” CLEAR AND BETTER

TONgUE AND gROOvE fLUSh-jOINT

WESTERN RED CEDAR

size 1x4

finisH CABOT BLEAChINg OIL

scReen

gRAde kILN-DRIED SELECT kNOTTy

WESTERN RED CEDAR

size 1x2 WITh 1/4" SpACINg

finisH CABOT BLEAChINg OIL

28 ThE CEDAR BOOk

pigeoncReekResidence

client young family architect lucid architecture, eric de witt engineer structural associates, inc.photographer eric de witt

contractor zahn builders

projecttype family home

location olive township, michigan

no guessing games here. Eric De Witt knew exactly what his client wanted from this Ottawa County project. That’s because he was the client,

and this is the home he designed for his young growing family.

“We wanted open spaces for our family to play and be outdoors,” says the Michigan architect. “So the home was to have a strong connection to the outdoors, through sliding wall systems, as well as strategically placed windows to frame views of the outdoors. The home was to have an open connected plan, but also offer privacy for the sleeping spaces.”

Set in a wooded area overlooking wetlands, this decidedly modern, yet warming and inviting home, doesn’t have a backyard per se because of a 15-foot drop at the rear of the property – a topographical challenge that De Witt uses as a means of creating a level of security for the bedrooms.

THE cEdAR bOOk 29

30 THE cEdAR bOOk

The primary choice of material for this passion project was western red cedar. De Witt used WRC on the exterior and pulled it through select spots of the home’s interior, essentially blurring the lines between outdoor and indoor living.

“The cedar blends well with the other materials we specified for this project,” says De Witt. “With the versatility provided by varying stains, the wood can be toned to match almost any color palette.”

gRAde kILN-DRIED “A” CLEAR AND BETTER

WESTERN RED CEDAR

size 1x6 TONgUE AND gROOvE

fAstening STAINLESS STEEL BLIND NAILINg

OvER RAIN SCREEN AppLICATION

finisH 2 COATS SANSIN SDf

wRcspecificAtions

THE cEdAR bOOk 31

1. A CEDAR DECk fORMS ThE BASE fOR

AN OUTDOOR LIvINg AREA

2.fLANkINg ThE fIREpLACE, ThE

CEDAR-CLAD WALLS ExTEND fROM

ThE ExTERIOR TO ThE INTERIOR

12

“Western red cedar is readily available and has the aesthetic we were looking for, especially in the clear/VG grades. It is easy to work with [and] perfectly suited for exterior applications.”

– EriC dE wiTTARChITECT

ELEvATION 1

ELEvATION 2

ELEvATION 3

ELEvATION 4

when it came to designing this gorgeous ski-in/ski-out family retreat, one of the biggest challenges for lead

architect John Maniscalco was conserving the placement of the existing trees while accommodating a snowplowed pathway to the entry of the house. The latter was of utmost importance, as the Sugar Bowl area is known to get snowpacks of up to 8 or 9 feet. Furthermore, these glacial layers could lead to dangerous snow blocks. With that in mind, Maniscalco looked to a historical railroad avalanche shed for inspiration.

“The house uses a simple bent planar roof form to gather the rooftop snowpack and shed it to the rear of the structure, away from entry and pedestrian traffic,” explains Maniscalco. “Perched on a concrete plinth that lifts it above the tall winter snowpack, the house allows snow to rise around it and meet the entry level.”

sugARBowL

client young family designarchitect john maniscalco architecture architectofrecord kelly and abramson architecture

engineer gabbart and woods

photographer matthew millman

contractor ethan allen construction

furnishings maca huneeus design

projecttype ski house/family retreat

location norden, california

32 THE cEdAR bOOk

1.AcAREFUlly plAcEd, ExAggERATEd WINdOW FORms A

FRAmE FOR THE mOUNTAIN ExpERIENcE OUTsIdE

2.A TWO-sTORy glAzEd WAll AT THE mAIN sTAIR pROvIdEs

A sINgUlAR vERTIcAl pERspEcTIvE

3.THE pERcHEd HOUsE AllOWs sNOW TO RIsE AROUNd IT

ANd mEET THE ENTRy lEvEl

12

3

THE cEdAR bOOk 33

But safety and access were only part of the puzzle. The clients had several other items on their design wish list for this powder palace.

“They wanted a casual, warm and modern, but still rugged-feeling home that maintained a sense of the site from inside the home,” says Maniscalco. “After a day spent in the open skies on the mountain, the ability to return to a home that was intimate but still open to the beautiful aspects of the natural surroundings was key.”

He achieved that tall order through exaggerated geometric forms and warm building materials – namely western red cedar, which he used on the exterior siding as well as on the interior walls and ceilings.

“It was a perfect fit for the site and helped reinforce the design intent of tying the interiors and exterior together and anchoring the house in its natural setting,” says Maniscalco. “In particular, the combination of WRC and steel structure and detailing around the fenestration helped to give the house a sense of place – a sense that it is a mountain home.”

gRAde kILN-DRIED “A” CLEAR AND BETTER

WESTERN RED CEDAR

size 1x4 TONgUE AND gROOvE,

fLUSh jOINT

fAstening STAINLESS STEEL BLIND NAILED

finisH SIkkENS LOg AND CABIN

wRcspecificAtions

34 ThE CEDAR BOOk

fIRST LEvEL fLOOR pLAN

1.A CONCRETE pLINTh LIfTS ThE

hOUSE WELL ABOvE ThE SNOWpACk

2.,3.A SOLID CEDAR-CLAD vOLUME

hOUSES SLEEpINg AREAS

1

2 3

ThE CEDAR BOOk 35

THE HOUsE UsEs A sImplE

bENT plANAR ROOF

FORm REmINIscENT OF

A HIsTORIcAl RAIlROAd

AvAlANcHE sHEd

36 THE cEdAR bOOk

“It [western red cedar] helped to take the more abstract modern forms and make them warmer in character, and to anchor the house to the language of the traditional mountain house.”

– John mAnisCALCoARChITECT

THE cEdAR bOOk 37

SECOND LEvEL fLOOR pLAN

inspired by a vintage Polaroid camera, Matthew Hufft of Hufft Projects designed this Indian Point vacation home so that every vantage point composes a

picturesque landscape of its own.

“The form of the ‘Postcard House’ is intended to frame the scenic setting from every angle – creating ‘postcards’ from within,” says Hufft. “It is all about the views and the experience.”

Set on a steep woodsy lakefront site near Branson, Missouri, the Postcard serves as a weekend retreat for two grown brothers and their respective families. Per their wishes to respect the natural surroundings, the

multi-level building with egress floors was elevated on steel columns and pavement was kept to a minimum.

In terms of materials, most of the exterior walls are clad in sustainable Grade A clear and select knotty western red cedar. Aesthetically, the warm wood tones contrast beautifully with the cooling effect of the aluminum roof, but that’s not the only reason Hufft chose to work with western red cedar.

“It was a natural fit in the wooded setting,” says the award-winning Kansas City architect. “A high level of precision and craft went into the construction of the residence, and western red cedar satisfied this requirement.”

client two brothers architect hufft projects

engineer packard engineering

photographer hufft projects

contractor kenson goff homes

projecttype weekend retreat

location branson west, missouri

postcARdHouse

38 ThE CEDAR BOOk

“The warmth of the material [western red cedar] contrasts the cool gray of the aluminum roof and siding that wrap the rest of the home.”

– mATThEw huffT, AiA, nCArB, LEEd AP fOUNDER AND CREATIvE DIRECTOR

Of hUffT pROjECTS

INSpIRED By A vINTAgE pOLAROID,

ThE BUILDINg MIMES ThE pROfILE Of

AN ‘80S INSTANT CAMERA AND fRAMES

SCENIC vIEWS fROM WIThIN

ThE CEDAR BOOk 39

40 ThE CEDAR BOOk

1

2 3

THE cEdAR bOOk 41

1.ThE hOME IS BUILT ON COLUMNS TO MINIMIzE

IMpERvIOUS pAvEMENT

2.TIghT-kNOT WESTERN RED CEDAR SIDINg

WARMS Up ThE ALUMINUM COMpONENTS

3.UppER DECk OvERLOOkINg TABLE ROCk LAkE

SECOND LEvEL fLOOR pLAN

gROUND LEvEL fLOOR pLAN

LOWER LEvEL fLOOR pLAN

gRAde kILN DRIED “A” CLEAR AND BETTER

AND kILN DRIED SELECT kNOTTy

WESTERN RED CEDAR

size 1x4 TONgUE AND gROOvE, EDgE v

fAstening MOUNTED ON 1/2" vERTICAL BATTENS

finisH SIkkENS STAIN

wRcspecificAtions

Building a home with single-level accessibility on a flat parcel of prairieland is one thing. But when the site is spread out over a significant seaside slope, then you have some bona fide design challenges. That’s

what SGA architect Dave Strachan took on with this stunning Owhanake Bay project – a house he designed for a semi-retired couple who wanted their island home to harmonize with the beautiful surroundings.

To create livable flow within those parameters, he broke the house down into three narrow pavilions: a guest pavilion, a living pavilion and a master bedroom pavilion.

“The arrangement of the house ‘bends’ to follow the natural contours, allowing ease of movement through the landscape and minimal excavation of the landform,” says Strachan, he adds, “As in the natural environment, folds in landforms often contain watercourses. Hence, the two wedges of space between the three pavilions become a gathering of water, points of cleansing. These two linkages contain two bathhouses: one a main ensuite and the other a plunge pool/spa.”

client semi-retired couple architects strachan group architects (sga)projectarchitect dave strachan

engineer adam mackenzie

photographer patrick reynolds

contractor tomik architectural builders

projecttype residential

location waiheke island, new zealand

owHAnAkeBAyHouse

42 ThE CEDAR BOOk

“The rhythmic pattern [we were] able to achieve and the rough-sawn finish blended organically into the surroundings.”

– dAvE sTrAChAnARChITECT

THE cEdAR bOOk 43

44 THE cEdAR bOOk

THE cEdAR bOOk 45

Another way he referenced the home’s scenic setting was through his choice of building materials. The rusticated exterior, for example, predominantly features three different widths of western red cedar in horizontal shiplaps, as does the internal cladding, essentially blurring the lines between interior and exterior along the walkway, in the plunge pool area and in the bathroom. “The dark-stained cedar weatherboards,” explains Strachan, “reflect the coloring of the branches of regenerating manuka bush, blending with the landscape when viewed from the sea.”

1.WESTERN RED CEDAR-CLAD hALLWAy BENDS AROUND

ThE BACk SpINE Of ThE hOUSE

2.BOUNDARIES BETWEEN INTERIOR AND ExTERIOR IN ThE

MASTER ENSUITE ARE fURThER BROkEN DOWN WITh

ThE EAST WALLS CONSTRUCTED Of fULLy gLAzED LOUvRE

BANkS, CONNECTINg WITh ThE LANDSCApE BEyOND

3.ThREE CONNECTED pAvILIONS CONTOUR ThE LANDSCApE

12

3

pROjECT SkETCh

gRAde kILN-DRIED “A” CLEAR AND BETTER

TExTURED-fACE WESTERN RED CEDAR

size 1x4, 1x6, 1x8 ShIpLAp SqUARE-EDgE

WITh RANDOM BOARD ARRANgEMENT

fAstening STAINLESS STEEL, ROSE hEAD RINg

ShANk NAILS

finisH RESENE WATERBORNE WOODSMAN

wRcspecificAtions

46 THE cEdAR bOOk

overlooking a beautiful Norwegian archipelago, this deceptively large beachfront family home is surrounded by small traditional wooden houses.

So the challenge here was designing an expansive residence without dwarfing the nearby homes or interfering with their sightlines.

“The building is partly hidden underground in order to allow for unobstructed sea views for the closest neighbors,” explains the Jarmund/Vigsnæs team lead architect Einar Jarmund. “The house folds out towards the horizon of the fjord, while it also breaks up to relate to the scale of existing buildings close by.”

As a result of this gradually emerging layout, the “Split House” boasts its own spectacular seascapes as well as private outdoor spaces and the closest possible proximity to the clients’ private beach.

architects jarmund/vigsnæs as architects mnal

einar jarmund, håkon vigsnæs, alessandra kosberg, stian schjelderup, claes cho heske ekornås

engineer gunnar johansson as

photographer nils petter dale

contractor gunnar johansson as

projecttype single-family house

location askerhus county, norway

spLitHouse

THE cEdAR bOOk 47

TWO splIT vOlUmEs EmERgE

OUT OF A slOpEd HIllsIdE

TOWARds THE sEA

48 ThE CEDAR BOOk

“The cedar is knot-free, and gives the wooden façade a smooth surface and a calm impression.”

– håkon vigsnæsjARMUND/vIgSNæS

ARChITECTS

gRAde kILN-DRIED “A” CLEAR AND BETTER

WESTERN RED CEDAR

size 1x10 vERTICAL WOOD SIDINg

WITh CLEAN-CUT EDgE pANELS

fAstening STAINLESS STEEL

finisH NONE

wRcspecificAtions

THE cEdAR bOOk 49

In addition to blending into the seaside topography, this innovative project is “at one with nature” in other significant ways.

Jarmund explains, “The sloped terrain on the west side continues and extends onto the roof of the house, which has a sedum vegetation on top. This makes a natural ‘roofscape’.

The warmth and beauty of the unfinished WRC siding, meanwhile, pulls triple duty. The wood’s calming naturalism complements green initiatives such as the living roof, while tempering the home’s large sections and contrasting the stone and concrete base.

“The whole façade on the ground floor is clad with western red cedar,” he says “to give the project a ‘natural’ look that softens up the volumes.”

SOUTh fAçADE

1. ThE SLOpED TERRAIN ExTENDS

ONTO ThE ROOf Of ThE hOUSE

2.pARTLy hIDDEN pROgRAM DOESN’T

BLOCk NEIghBORS’ SEA vIEWS

3.SEDUM vEgETATION ON TOp MAkES

fOR A NATURAL ROOfSCApE

1

23

50 THE cEdAR bOOk

client chan-li lin and denise ferris architects chan-li lin, aia and denise ferris, aia

engineer yoshinori nito, pe

photographer brad feinknopf

contractor atlantic state development corp.projecttype country home

location waccabuc, new york

wAccABucHouse

After spending much of their professional lives working on large projects for other people, architects Chan-li Lin and denise ferris

finally decided to design a dream home of their own. The new york couple’s primary goal for this abode was to contrast the hustle and bustle of their city life with some well-deserved peace and quiet. so they set about building a rural retreat on a wooded hill in waccabuc, a countrified hamlet located 50 miles north of new york City.

in order to maximize the property’s picturesque landscape and create a sense of living among trees, they placed most of the living space on the large cantilevered second floor of their dramatically structured two-story home.

“we wanted every part of the house to have a strong connection with the beautiful natural surroundings, with each space of the house having its special relationship to its unique views,” says Lin. “spaces upstairs have direct connections with the surrounding trees while the rooms downstairs are nestled into the rocks and ferns outside the windows.”

To further enhance that relationship between home and habitat, they clad the entire exterior in wrC.

“western red cedar was a perfect material of choice for the house on this particular site, creating a dialogue between the natural living trees and the house built of the natural material,” says Lin.

THE cEdAR bOOk 51

EAcH spAcE OF THE HOUsE

HAs A spEcIAl RElATIONsHIp

TO ITs UNIqUE vIEWs

52 THE cEdAR bOOk

gRAde kILN-DRIED “A” CLEAR AND BETTER WESTERN RED CEDAR – LOWER fLOOR;

kILN-DRIED SELECT kNOTTy WESTERN RED CEDAR – UppER fLOOR

size 1x6 TONgUE AND gROOvE, EDgE v – LOWER fLOOR;

1x8 ShIpLAp, SqUARE EDgE – UppER fLOOR

fAstening STAINLESS STEEL SIDINg NAILS, 16" O.C.

finisH CLEAR ACRyLIC SEALER – LOWER fLOOR;

BLACk SEMI-TRANSpARENT STAIN – UppER fLOOR

wRcspecificAtions

WEST ELEvATION

EAST ELEvATION

SOUTh ELEvATION

NORTh ELEvATION

THE cEdAR bOOk 53

“Western red cedar was chosen to enhance the ‘natural’ qualities of the house by its colors and textures.”

– ChAn-Li LinARChITECT

54 THE cEdAR bOOk

Camano Island is beautiful – no doubt about it. Just an hour away from Seattle, this Puget Sound oasis offers spectacular views. Sounds like an idyllic spot to build a beach house, yes? Well it is, but there’s a lot more to

consider than just oceanic vistas here – especially when your property happens to be in a high-velocity flood zone. Such was the case of the “Tsunami House.”

“We raised the main living level up 10' and put a cabana space on the first level,” says principal architect Dan Nelson. “The house also had to be built on piers so water can flow freely through the first level if there is a flood, and the piers were designed to withstand 200 mile-per-hour lateral wave action.”

That said, the “Tsunami” experience isn’t merely about prepping for a 100-year flood. “The house has floor-to-ceiling glass on the water side and large sliding glass doors that open up the living

client family with three children architects dan nelson, principal architect

tom rochon, project architect

wendy kennedy and garrett kuhlman, interior designers

scott lankford, landscape architect

engineer jason lindquist

photographer lucas henning

contractor jp land builder inc.projecttype beach cabin

location camano island, washington

tsunAmiHouse

THE cEdAR bOOk 55

“The clients wanted durable, low-maintenance materials and the cedar fit right in with that requirement.”

– dAn nELsonpRINCIpAL ARChITECT

56 ThE CEDAR BOOk

1.ThE fLOOR-TO-CEILINg WINDOWS

OpEN Up ThE LIvINg ROOM TO

SEASIDE vIEWS

2.STEEL COMBINED WITh WRC

CREATES A SENSE Of REfINEMENT

3.MODERN CABIN BOASTS

BEAUTIfUL CABANA SpACE ON

ThE fIRST LEvEL

1 2

3

ThE CEDAR BOOk 57

room to the water,” says Nelson. “When the doors are open, one feels like they are in a boat looking out to sea.”

In keeping with this natural world theme, Nelson worked plenty of sustainable western red cedar into his design. This served several purposes. Firstl, it jibed with the clients’ wish to use durable low-maintenance materials on the exterior and second, this healthy dose of cedar added just the right touch of refined elegance to the home’s interior – especially when paired with the glass tiles. And, last but not least, WRC’s innate beauty merged this otherwise industrial-looking cabin with its naturally exquisite environment.

“The warmth and tonality of the cedar interiors and fencing,” explains Nelson, “help to blend the house into its waterfront surroundings.”

gRAde kILN-DRIED CLEAR vERTICAL gRAIN

hEART WESTERN RED CEDAR – CEILINgS

AND pANELINg;

kILN DRIED “A” CLEAR AND BETTER

vERTICAL gRAIN, SMOOTh fACE

WESTERN RED CEDAR – fENCINg

size 1x6 CUSTOM pATTERN – SIDINg

AND pANELINg;

5/4x6 – fENCINg

fAstening MARINE-gRADE STAINLESS STEEL

finisH ThE fENCE IS fINIShED WITh

SIkkENS CLEAR fINISh

ThE INTERIOR IS fINIShED WITh

A CLEAR WATER-BASED vARNISh

wRcspecificAtions

ELEvATION

58 ThE CEDAR BOOk

client mark podlaseck and stephen bryant architects bohlin cywinski jackson (bcj)

engineer ed pons and associates photographer matt wargo

contractor noto bros. construction

projecttype primary residence

location warren, connecticut

edgeHouse

mark Podlaseck and Stephen Bryant give new meaning to the words “living life on the Edge.” The Connecticut

couple’s home sits along a narrow mountainside ledge on the fringes of a remote New England forest. Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the desired effect for this architectural stunner is to feel as though the surrounding trees are actually cradling the building.

“The house was designed to fit within the existing clearing and its shape follows the natural contours of the forest edge, making its location feel like a natural occurrence,” says BCJ project manager Nick Snyder. “This limited the removal of trees and the need for intensive earthwork.”

THE pRImARy REd WAll cARvEs

INTO THE lANdscApE AlONg THE

FOREsT EdgE, FOllOWINg THE sITE

cONTOURs sO As TO mERgE WITH

THE NATURAl lANdscApE

THE cEdAR bOOk 59

“Cedar was used on the exterior due to its natural resistance to water, decay and insects. Cedar is also sustainably harvested, which met the desires of the client to use sustainable materials wherever possible.”

– niCk snydErpROjECT MANAgER

60 ThE CEDAR BOOk

ThE CEDAR BOOk 61

One of the many standout design features here has to be the curved crimson wall that merges into the natural landscape – essentially blurring the lines between inside and outside. As with all of the wood siding and paneling on the “Edge House,” BCJ went with western red cedar for this custom-stained structure.

“Cedar added warmth to the space,” explains Snyder, “and also enabled us to use a single cladding material with various finishes applied to achieve our vision for colors while limiting drywall, which was a request of the client.”

gRAde kILN-DRIED “A” CLEAR AND BETTER

WESTERN RED CEDAR

size 1x4 TONgUE AND gROOvE

hORIzONTAL AppLICATION;

1x6 TONgUE AND gROOvE vERTICAL

AppLICATION, 1x8 TONgUE AND gROOvE

vERTICAL AppLICATION

fAstening BLIND fASTENED

finisH hORIzONTAL 1x4 SIDINg (NATURAL):

pENOfIN MARINE OIL;

vERTICAL 1x6 SIDINg (RED); BIOShIELD

CLEAR-BASE STAIN fINISh MIxED WITh

ORIENTAL RED pIgMENT (CUSTOM);

vERTICAL 1x8 SIDINg (SILvER) = CUSTOM

CABOT STAIN MIxED WITh BLEAChINg OIL

wRcspecificAtions

1.CORRIDOR IS CLAD IN WRC SIDINg

WITh RED STAIN AND NATURAL fINISh

2.vIEW fROM MASTER BEDROOM

LOOkINg WEST

3.ThE MAIN RED WALL ACTS AS ThE

SpINE Of ThE hOUSE

4.CANTILEvERED MASTER BEDROOM

ALLOWS OCCUpANTS TO LIvE LIfE ON

ThE EDgE

1 2

4 3

NORTh ELEvATION

EAST ELEvATION

62 ThE CEDAR BOOk

The 7th volume of The Cedar Book profiles stunning and award-winning architecture from inspired architects around the world. These architects continue a trend that was started centuries ago when the native peoples of the Pacific Northwest recognized the value of using this very unique wood species. Western red cedar’s natural durability, performance characteristics and versatility made it the preferred choice for building oceangoing canoes and post-and-beam houses and lodges. Today’s discerning architects and builders enhance their projects with this beautiful, versatile and sustainable building material. Nature still knows best. Despite all efforts at imitation, no man-made product can match the beauty, performance and longevity of western red cedar – a fact that this book, as well as the gallery at RealCedar.com, illustrates so well.

Western red cedar is one of nature’s truly remarkable materials. It produces fewer greenhouse gases, generates less water and air pollution, requires less energy to produce than alternatives, and comes from a renewable and sustainable resource. More than ever before, we must find ways to reduce the pressure on our planet’s environment and finite resources. By choosing products with a light carbon footprint and by reducing waste, we can have a real impact on climate change now, and into the future. As part of their commitment to transparency, western red cedar producers now have Environmental Product Declarations available for siding/cladding and decking products.

We hope this book will inspire you to consider western red cedar for your next project. Need help selecting, specifying or sourcing the right western red cedar product? Contact the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association via RealCedar.com and we will be glad to assist.

Thank you for your interest in western red cedar.

WEsTERN REd cEdARAt one with nature

ThE CEDAR BOOk 63

produced with the generous support of:

ReALcedAR.com

editoR

Sarah Rowland

designeR

Marga López CgD

pRINTED IN CANADA

WRCLA CEDAR BOOk vOLUME 7 - 1st Edition

coVeR

john Maniscalco Architecture

pHotogRApHeR

Matthew Millman

© 2014 Western Red Cedar Lumber Association.

All rights reserved.

REAlcEdAR.cOm